Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

Author(s): A Ekambarnathan
Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha

Page 144

RECENTLY DISCOVERED JAINA INSCRIPTIONS
143
Kongarpuliyankulam. This place is identified with modern Cholavandan. The Aththanis are the same as the Aththigosattar i.e. a group of security guards of elephant force who usually gave protection to the merchants during the medieval period. From this one can infer the close association of Aththanis with the Jaina merchants.
Kulattur
An inscription of Pandya king Emmandalamum Kondaruliya Kulasekara's 20th regnal year (1288 A.D.) found on the wall of the Vishnu temple at Kulattur, Aruppukkottai taluk, Virudhunagar district, records the gift of land granted to the Vishnu temple. 16 Incidently, this inscription mentions a Jaina temple called Virpori Virapperumpalli and its pallichandam lands were also measured and marked with the boundary stones by the members of Ur assembly. The Pallichandam lands of the Jaina temple according to this epigraph, were situated at a place known as Pallerichchal, adjacent to Kulattur. The Pulankurichchi inscription also mentions a place called Pachcherichal. So the terms pallerichchal and pachcherichal are very close to the Jaina tradition and it needs further research. However, the Pandya inscription clearly points out the existing and living tradition of Jaina worship even during the 13th and 14th centuries. The Jaina temple referred to above does not exist now. However, two images of Tirthankaras which once adorned the temple, are now found near the local tank.
The Jaina temple Virpori Virapperumpalli was named after Virpori i.e. the security guards carrying bows and arrows and these armed men accompanied traders and their merchandise and offered protection to
them from theft and robbery. So, the temple seems to